Alina’s POV
I couldn’t sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ronan’s face hovering inches from mine, felt the ghost of his almost-kiss burning on my lips. The way he’d pulled back, that careful mask sliding into place like armor—it kept replaying in my mind over and over.
So when I heard the loud roar of a motorcycle engine coming through the compound gates just after midnight, I was already wide awake, staring at my ceiling and trying to untangle the mess inside my head.
The engine suddenly went quiet, followed by the sound of someone stumbling. My heart raced. I recognized that distinctive rumble—it was different from the aggressive sound of Jaxon’s bike or the smooth purr of Ronan’s.
Maddox.
I was out of bed and down the hallway before I could think it through, my bare feet s
